1536, by Ava Pickett, is set in a wheatfield near Colchester during the final months of Anne Boleyn’s life. Three peasant women, Jane, Mariella and Anna, meet to discuss the latest news as it trickles in from London. When Anne is imprisoned in the Tower, they try to imagine her state of mind. ‘Terrified,’ says Mariella. ‘Furious,’ says Anna. ‘Starving,’ says Jane. After her execution, Jane shrugs, ‘She deserved it.’ The others are more sympathetic but their commentary is hard to care about because they can’t influence the events they’re discussing. Nor does Anne’s experience affect their lives in any way so their chitchat is narratively pointless.
They’re far more interested in two local lads, William and Richard, who represent the extremes of male behaviour. William is a handsome wimp who regrets his hasty marriage and longs to seduce Mariella. Richard is a dashing cad who proposes to Jane while pursuing a secret affair with Anna. These brittle and tiresome romances are the true focus of this play, and the tragedy of Anne Boleyn has been hijacked to create an atmosphere of historical significance.
If you’ve been stuck on a train next to a group of teenage drama students, you’ll know how this show feels
